the bike ride adventure

Today after settling a bit at the apartment, Zach needed to go to immigration to buy his re-entry sticker thing. So Zach searched the map to see where it was, and it didn't look that far on it, so we took the bikes and rode all the way over there. It was pretty easy to get there, but it took us about an hour to get there. I haven't rode a bike that long of a distance in a while, so my leg is tired....And after coming back from the immigration (another hour), we took a little break at the church, and rode again to Don Quixote and to the 100yen shop to buy some stuff.

今日アパートに荷物を持っていって、ちょっと落ち着いた後、ザックが入国管理局に行かないといけないから、自転車でそこに向かいました！(☆O◎)　　グーグルマップではそんなに遠くに見えなかったけど、そこまで行くのに（自転車で）、何と約一時間かかった！Σ(ﾟﾛﾟ；ﾉ)ﾉ　そして、また一時間通して教会まで戻ってきて、ちょっと休憩した後に、またドンキホーテと100円ショップに自転車で行きました！（お疲れ！m(_ _ )m

it was a busy day

とても忙しい一日だった

the new apartment

So the Spearman's left to Idaho, and now me and Zach has moved into their apartment.

The place is nice! And top it all off, God has blessed us with furnitures and others so that we have no need to use money to buy stuff! (only little things like food...haha)

So the picture below is of the place where we will be staying at.

ラスティーたちはアイダホ州に帰り、自分とザックは彼らのアパートに引越ししました。とても良い場所だよ！それと、何と！神様が私たちを祝福してくださって、全てのものはすでに備えられていました！ただ買うのは食べ物だけかな（笑）

下にある写真がそのアパートです。

Front door 入り口

toilet and shower トイレとシャワー室

kitchen キッチン

BEFORE/AFTER

　　

zach's room ザックの部屋

　

My room 俺の部屋

CCBC Tokyo's first class

CCBC Tokyo has now officially started! Every Tuesday night from 8~10 Zach will be teaching the book of Acts at Calvary Chapel Fuchu! It was a blessing for Lewis to come and attend the first class taught by Zach.

Zach taught the first two chapter in Acts. We took some breaks to say goodbye to the Spearmans as they headed out to the airport. But it was a great two hours!

ＣＣＢＣ東京が今日、始まりました！毎週火曜日の夜8時～10時はザックが使徒の働きをカルバリーチャペル府中で教えます。今回ルイスが授業に参加してくれて、祝福な時となりました。

今日使徒の働きの1章と2章を学び、途中ラスティーたちが空港に向かう前に休憩を取り、さよならを言って見送りました。この二時間はとてもすばらしい二時間だったよ！

Spearman's heading out

So tonight was the day when Rusty, Amber, and Adelle is heading back to Idaho. I have known Rusty and Amber since my first semester at the Bible College in Okinawa. So I have known them for about four years. I will miss them, but I know that God will do great things for them. So please continue to keep them in their prayers as they are being lead by God!

今晩、ラスティーとアンバーとアデルがアイダホ州に戻る日です。ラスティーたちを始めて出会ったのは自分のＣＣＢＣ沖縄の一学期の時です。もう出会って四年近くだね！彼らが戻ることはとても寂しいけど、神様が彼らの人生を導いてくれることを知っているから、同時に嬉しいです。どうか彼らのことを覚えて祈りを捧げてください！

Rusty and Amber and Adelle's goodbye dinner

After sunday service around dinner time, some of the church family and me and Zach and Joanna went out to dinner with the Spearman's. Rusty and Amber and Adelle is going back to the states for a while, so we all went out to eat at a restaurant called Ken's. This restaurant reminded me of On Dish back in Okinawa, because they too had an all you can ice cream and salad bar. It was pretty good, but personally I didn't like the food that I ordered...

but the ice cream was very good!!

First Sunday service @ CC Fuchu

Well the first sunday at CC Fuchu was great! What was interesting was that Pastor Rich taught from the same portion of Scripture where Pastor Tommy (CC Ginowan) was teaching out from. So the message was from 1 Corinthians 7:17-40.

Today's message really spoke to my heart. From verses 17-24, Paul tells us that no matter what kind of situation that we are in, we have to remember to do what we are called to do. And often times I want to change the situation, "Oh, if it was like this, I would be able to serve God more better." etc. (you get the idea).

But what Paul is saying that whatever situation that I am in, slave or free, God put me in to that situation, and I have the responsibility to use that situation to bring God the glory or not.

And as I am in Tokyo right now, I have to be content in what God has called me out here for, to teach the book of Mark to those who are going to be here and also to serve at the churches and to be available to the people.

After the service, everyone went to buy bento (or some even brought it) and gathered back at the church. And when everyone was back, we all ate lunch together. It was interesting, because back in Okinawa we would just split and go out to eat with one another. But it was a blessed time to spend time with the CC Fuchu family. (even though I was not able to talk to many of them...)

Zach got tired, so he decided to take a nap around three or so haha

Going around in Tokyo!!

On Saturday, Lewis took me and Zach around Tokyo. It was a blessing time just hang with him and also to see the city.

First we went to Shinjuku and went to the goverment office. The reason why we went there was to go up to the 45th floor. The entrance fee is free and you can see the city pretty good. (pictures are below) And on clear days, they said that you can see Mt. Fuji!

Lewis and Zach, outside the government building

One of the Art University

The Sky-tree

Tokyo Tower

Than afterwards we went to Akihabara. I asked Lewis to take us there because I heard from my friend that you can buy electronics pretty cheap out there. However, from Pastor Rich's information, Akihabara is not cheap now and you can buy the electronics at electronic stores for about the same price. So I was little bummed out about it, but it was just fun seeing around the place.

Than lastly, we went to Ochanomizu. At this city, right outside the station, there is tons of music instrument stores. There was a store which sold guitars (classic, electric, bass), and Saxophone, violins, and other instruments which I forgot what it is...haha

But overall, it was exciting for me to just go out to the city area for the first time. And if I were to compare to Okinawa, I would say "It's like Kokusai street, but not just in one place, but everywhere"

Summer school pics (more!)

more pictures from summer school!

These kids are so cute!!

Haruyo & Zach

Hana & Momoko

Koudai

Yazusa & Hinano

Akira

CC Fuchu summer school pictures

Zack on the swing

Zack with kids

Kids inside

Kids with Candise

Fergi

Kei

Angus

Nap time

Helping at CCFuchu's Summer school

CCFuchu does this pre-school thing, where the kids come and learn english (its called "We Go Eigo!") But the school does not start until the second week of September. But for about two week, at the end of August, they have a summer school program. And during this time a lot of kids come and have fun! They learn about God and Jesus, sing and dance, play games, and learn English at the same time. How awesome is that!

The summer school finishes this Friday, and most of the kids who comes here are not saved (from what I heard from). So please remember about the children that the people here can give some kind of impact, and that God will continue to work in their lives!

The kids are super cute and awesome, and I will try to take pictures and post it to the next blog.

But it will be a busy week for me, and also for Zack! But playing with the kids is so much fun, and tiring at the same time haha

First day at Fuchu

To start off, the airplane ride to main land was not bad. The place is so much different from Okinawa, but it kinda reminds me of Naha city. I am so excited of what God has stored in for me here in Main land!

Last day before leaving to Tokyo

Normally at Sunday nights, we have a W2 (Worship & Word) service at the church. However because me and Zack are moving to Tokyo (and leaving the next day), we had a beach bash/going away party at the Kouki Beach.

It was just a nice, relaxing fellowship time with the church family. The beach was awesome, and I was able to hang time with my three closest friends too.

I am going to miss you all! But I will be back!

dinner with the Magnusson's

Me and Zach are leaving to Tokyo to start the Bible College and before we left, the Magnusson's invited us for dinner.

The dinner was awesome and afterwards we played Monopoly and a wonderful dessert.

It was a blessing time for both me and Zack. Thank you Jo and Samantha!

1 Peter 5:5-11 devo

well, I had the opportunity to share a devotion at the church today, and thought that I would like to share to the readers

God has been speaking to my heart a lot in the little time I have left in Okinawa (as I am moving to Tokyo in 11 more days!!)

but God is good.

(the devotion below is from the notes that I wrote)

1 Peter 5:5-11

Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Subject: Be humble, watchful, and steadfast.

Compliment: And God will perfect, establish, strengthen, and settles you.

Complete thought: Be humble, watchful, and steadfast; and God will perfect, establish, strengthen, and settles you.

Intro: Have you ever felt depressed, or felt lonely? I know that I do. And I tend to hold everything in. But God reminded me of his faithfulness here in this portion. And as we look through God’s word, my encouragement to you guys is to be reminded of God’s faithfulness in our lives.

I. V.5-7

(ア) Humility - The quality or condition of being humble

① Humble – not proud

(イ) “Be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility”

① Why?

1. “for ‘God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble’” (Prov.3:34)

2. God is our Heavenly Father, who cares about us

(ア) However, if we become prideful and not walking in humility, we are rejecting the God’s kindness.

(イ) God wants to help us in our every situation.

① Everything was made by God, even ourselves

② There is nothing that we can do without the help from God

③ Without God, we are helpless

(ウ) How to be humble?

① “casting all your care upon Him (God)”

1. Because God cares about you.

2. That is God’s love toward us

3. David Guzik “True humility is shown by our ability to cast our care upon God. It is proud presumption to take things into our own worry and care about things that God has promised to take care of.”

II. V.8

(ア) Sober – to be calm and collected in spirit; temperate, dispassionate, circumspect (to be on guard)

(イ) Vigilant – to be cautious, watchful not to fall into sin

① Why?

1. because “your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour”.

2. David Guzik “For Christians, Satan is a lion who may roar but who has been de-fanged at the cross (Colossians 2:15). Yet the sound of his roar - his deceptive lies - is still potent and he has the power to devour souls and rob Christians of effectiveness.”

(ア) Satan’s roar, the deceptive lies, can take our tiny problems that we have and make it look humongous.

① And when we tend to believe in the lies of Satan, fall into his deception, it is possible to lose our effectiveness as Christians.

III. V.9

(ア) What we need to do?

① This is a spiritual warfare, and we need to;

1. Resist him, be steadfast in faith, and know that you are not the only one who are going through this suffering.

(ア) When we are steadfast in our faith, we are able to resist the devils lies, his threats, and his intimidations.

(イ) Chuck Smith “The Bible never tells us to yield to Satan or to give up, but to resist him in the faith (James 4:7).”

(イ) And I know that I do go through this suffering, but as Peter states, I am not the only one who are going through this.

① Like Elijah, when he was fleeing from Jezebel after the great victory at Mount Carmel.

1. He thought that he was the only one (1 Kings 19:14)

(ア) And he said, "I have been very zealous for the LORD God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life."

2. but God comforted him (1 Kings 19:18)

(ア) "Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him."

② And I think we all can take comfort by knowing that we are never alone in our spiritual warfare

1. but what is more comforting to know is that every sufferings that we faced or going to face, Jesus went through all of it. (Hebrews 4:14-16)t

IV. V.10-11

(ア) Ultimately God of all grace is the one who “will perfect you, establish you, strengthen you, and settle you”.

① As we walk in this world, we will struggle and suffer, it is not a easy road

1. But as we are in our suffering and in our struggles, God will use that to perfect you, to establish you, to strengthen you, and to settle you.

2. Remember Joseph in Genesis?

(ア) He went through a lot

① Joseph was sold as a slave by his own brothers and also was accused falsely and put into jail

② But God used his suffering and he became the second strongest man in charge of Egypt

(イ) And Peter concludes by praising God for his wonderful, great works that he is working in each one’s lives.

V. Conclusion

(ア) Peter stated for us to be humble, to be sober and vigilant, and to be steadfast.

① We show our humility by casting all our cares to God

② There is a necessity to be sober and vigilant because Satan walks like a roaring lion, speaking deceptions and lies

③ And because there is the possibility for us to fall into the deception of Satan, we need to continue to resist the devil and be steadfast in our faith

(イ) And all of this suffering is not in vain

① God will use our suffering to perfect us, establish us, strengthen us, and settle us.

(ウ) And as we can see in the life of Elijah and Joseph, we can trust God to be faithful all the time.

① And I know that I tend to forget his faithfulness, but God is still faithful no matter what happens.

Hanging with Tim

Tim is a very good friend of mine and I have known him for a good seven years. I met him when I was in High school, New Life Academy.

Right now Tim is attending University of Arizona. He comes back to Okinawa during his summer and winter break. He was here in Okinawa for a good two months, and actually he goes back to Arizona today.

So yesterday I was blessed to have a time to hang out with his whole family, and later his church friends.

(Josh, Tim's little bro, and Tim)

We went for a drive to Ikei Island, but we did not go swimming. Afterwards we went to Taiyou Golf club, for dinner.

Please keep Tim in your prayers while he is in the States.

CCO VBS

At CCO (calvary chapel Okinawa) they had a VBS (vacation Bible School). The team of the VBS was "Inside-out and Upside-down". It talked about the view of the world versus the view of God, or in another word what the world would think, Jesus teaches us differently.

The VBS was for five days and I was able to be involved for the whole five days of it.

But for me, I was the big guy. The reason being is that I was in charge of the teaching time to the Japanese kids. It was fun and all, teaching the kids, but at the same time tiring.

The teaching was on "Gratitude", "Compassion", "Forgiveness", "Grace", and "Faithfulness".

the world will tell you to "complain", but Jesus teaches us to have a "thankful heart"

the world will tell you to "be angry to another person", but Jesus teaches us to forgive others.

the world will tell you to "be selfish/ only think about yourself", but Jesus teaches us to use what we have for God.

It really was a fruitful event (at least for me).

(Taishi, Thomas, me)

my favorite CCO kids!